Robin Williams

Robin, I didn't know you were that old.

No, that other one, David Attenborough.

Oh, right.

The Science Show is produced by David Fisher.

I'm Robin Williams and I'm 104.

And I'm Belinda Smith, not 104.

Let's talk crazy.

Let's act crazy.

Let's be crazy because then the enemy doesn't know what you're thinking.

When you spent two weeks, Bill, gazing at the moon, did you realise that one of the main objectives was one of mapping?

A close-up look and recording of the once-hidden surface of our moon and how mapping is such a vital part of scientific observation.

And in this science show, we'll explore how mapping evolved our understanding of the Earth, our planet, and how it does so much every day to keep our treasured lands and oceans safe.

I'm Robin Williams.

And I'm Belinda Smith.

We begin with one of the shocks that came amid the euphoria about Artemis.

Australia decided to refuse to pay the sizeable costs of joining the European Southern Observatory, despite lengthy entreaties from our astronomers.

Could we miss out now on the next generation of cosmic technology?

Here's an opinion from one of our greatest, Professor Brian Schmidt of the Australian National University.

I wish you luck.

What, in terms of science, though, in a country, Australia, with so many really tremendous telescopes, OK, it's got a different vantage, the observatory.